Careers in kinesiology

Potential employers

  • city parks & recreation departments
  • colleges and universities
  • community organizations
  • corporate health centers
  • country clubs
  • health clubs and fitness centers
  • high schools and middle schools
  • hospitals
  • Olympic training centers
  • professional fitness centers
  • professional sport teams
  • public and private schools
  • sport medicine centers
  • sports injury clinics
  • recreational organizations or leagues
  • rehabilitation clinics

Career opportunities

  • adaptive movement activity specialist
  • athletic apparel design
  • business operations process improvement specialist
  • cancer exercise trainer
  • cardiac rehabilitation specialist
  • coach
  • club sport coordinator
  • community and exercise health activist
  • cardiac rehab specialist
  • chiropractic assistant
  • corporate fitness
  • corporate wellness manager
  • dance medicine specialist
  • employee fitness director
  • ergonomics
  • exercise technicians/specialists
  • event planner
  • fitness equipment sales
  • fitness center director
  • fitness and wellness trainer
  • fitness consultant/specialist
  • group fitness instructor
  • health coach
  • health educator
  • health promotions
  • inclusive fitness trainer
  • instructor/coordinator
  • laboratory technician
  • life style coach
  • marketing
  • mental skills coach
  • orthotics/prosthetics
  • performance enhancement
  • pharmaceutical sales
  • personal trainer*
  • recreation or club sport director
  • spa manager
  • sports medicine clinician
  • sports equipment manager
  • sport and fitness educator
  • youth program coordinator
  • recreation program director
  • wellness coach
  • wellness coordinator/director
  • youth sport recreation director

Commonly used as a preparation for admission to professional programs including nursing, physician assistant, certified athletic trainer, medical degree and chiropractic programs.

*certification recommended

Career opportunities with an advanced or graduate degree

A kinesiology degree provides excellent preparation for both graduate school and professional programs.

  • alternative medicine
  • applied physiology
  • architect for sports facility
  • athletic administrator
  • athletic director
  • athletic trainer
  • biomechanics
  • chiropractor
  • clinical exercise physiologist
  • college coach
  • dance/movement therapist
  • dentist
  • designer of sports/fitness equipment
  • dietician
  • exercise physiologist
  • forensic medicine
  • insurance company research and development
  • lawyer
  • medical device industry
  • military exercise physiology
  • neuroscience
  • nurse
  • nutrition/dietician
  • nutrition researcher
  • occupational therapist
  • optometrist
  • pharmaceutical industry
  • pharmacist
  • physician assistant
  • physician
  • physical therapist
  • podiatric medicine
  • public health
  • rehabilitation and preventative medicine
  • researcher
  • sport consultant
  • sports medicine
  • sport performance coach
  • sport performance testing
  • sports psychologist
  • strength and conditioning coach
  • university professor

Job titles and employers of alumni

  • Account Manager (health promotion), Advantage Health Corporation
  • Activities Director, Ebenzer
  • AmeriCorps Promise Fellow, Minnesota Alliance with Youth
  • Assistant Women’s Gymnastics Coach, University of Minnesota
  • Associate Sales Consultant, Depuy Synthes
  • Business Manager, YMCA
  • Cardiovascular Disease Research, Mayo Clinic
  • Certified Nursing Assistant, University of Colorado Hospital
  • Client Service Coordinator, Banfield the Pet Hospital
  • Club Manager, 24 hour Fitness
  • Director of Membership and Marketing, Golf Club of St. Paul
  • Director of Operations, Bierman Athletics
  • Director of Recreational Sports, Viterbo University
  • Health Coach, United HealthCare
  • Health Fitness Professional, Health Fitness
  • Health Fitness Specialist, EXOS
  • Health Plan Specialist, Medica
  • Lead Preschool Teacher, Kindercare Learning Center
  • Market Development Representative, Kipsu
  • Marketing Communications Manager, InTouch Health
  • Medical Assistant, Lakeside Sports and Pain Clinic
  • Patient Care Services Representative, Empi
    • z
  • Physical Therapy Aide, United Hospital-Allina Health
  • Recreation Specialist, Minneapolis Park Board
  • Rehabilitation Aide, Athletico
  • Sales Rep/Territory Manager (orthopedic sales), R+M Rehabilitation
  • Service Manager, Wells Fargo Bank
  • Special Education Assistant, Minneapolis Public Schools